Some post-Dallas analysis

Back from Dallas. The Sharks have the day off — and in the print version at least, so do I.

But here I am, Working the Corners, with some halfway decent material to share from that 4-2 win over the Stars that otherwise might get stale.

So here goes:

*** It’s hard to get specifics sometimes when coaches or GMs or players themselves talk about somebody being “good in the room.” But here’s a look at the kind of contribution a guy like Jeremy Roenick can make, courtesy Ron Wilson in his post-game conference:

“JR made the two guys (Setoguchi and Kaspar) before the game stand up and give a little speech about playing in their first game so that was kind of cool. And Seto said, ‘I’ve waited 20 years for this. We’re going to win tonight.’ Who knew?”

Setoguchi’s parents, by the way, were supposed to drive from their farm in Taber, Alberta to Edmonton on opening night to see their son’s first NHL game. But when his ankle forced him out of the lineup that morning, they stayed home instead. No, they didn’t make it to Dallas, but Setoguchi said he was pretty sure friends and family had access to the game on TV and had been watchng.

*** I figured if I go up to Craig Rivet after a bad loss (Columbus), I should approach him after a good victory (Dallas). And so I did. Reporters approach guys like Rivet, by the way, because they usually have something to say beyond the predictable answers to equally predictable questions. And sometimes you can actually learn something. Warning: This next part gets a little technical, but pay attention anyway.

“As a team, we wanted to change a few things. We know we have a big team that has speed and skill. As a D-corps, I thnk we’ve been somewhat taking away a little bit of the offensive presence.

“Tonight we wanted to get the puck forward — D to D and the puck going up, whether up the center or up theboards, whatever. We knew our forwards were going to skate onto it.

“We told them in the room before the game, this is what you can expect. It’s not going to be D to D and back to D and slow things down. And tonight you could really see. Our forwards were really skating.

“And you know what? This is probably one of the most positive feelings I’ve had because we’ve found something in our game that’s going to make us better. We have to utilize our speed and move the puck forward and we’re going to be OK.”

*** Steve Bernier was quick to share credit for his unassisted goal with Joe Pavelski, because it was Pavelski who forced the turnover that Bernier jumped on. In Bernier’s words:

“Joe Pavs, great play by him to make sure the puck didn’t go out of the zone. It’s not the prettiest goal I can score, but everybody tell me to shoot the puck, you never know, and so I did. I’m happy to score that goal and get my confidence a bit up.”

*** We should know more soon on the extent of the injury to Ryane Clowe’s banged-up knee. Because the Sharks were on the road, team doctors weren’t able to examine him until today. Ron Wilson said the damage occurred when Clowe “went in to take out a defenseman and he ran into the back end of him with his leg.”

***Finally, looks as if the Sharks game in LA on Saturday night won’t be part of the Center Ice package after all. The Sharks just sent out a note saying that the Kings TV station, FSN West, dropped the game from its schedule just days ago. Since FSN Bay Area also passed on it, that leaves zero feeds.

On the flip side, less than a month after the death of William Wirtz, his heirs now running the Blackhawks announced they will start televising home games for the first time. No word yet if the Sharks’ visit to Chicago on March 7 will be among the games chosen, but if it is, expect that to be available in the Bay Area to Center Ice subscribers.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

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Early in his career, I enjoyed watching JR, but for the last handful of years he has been so bitter and whinny that I have been exercising a bit of Schadenfreude at his bad fortunes.

Then Doug Wilson signed him this summer. I held my breath. Would he be the loud-mouth blamer-thrower of the recent past or would he be the out-spoken energizer of his youth. After a month, I am ready to breath a cautious sigh. He seems to be nothing but positive for the Sharks so far; in the locker room and on the ice.

Good information Dave. Keep up the good work. From what I have seen and heard, JR has been a great pick up by Doug Wilson and has brought a much needed presence to the room and on the ice.

MQE

David-

Please don’t feel you have to shy away from providing us “technical” analysis or quotes like Rivet’s. This is EXACTLY what is missing from Bay Area hockey coverage, and much more is needed to advance the understanding and appreciation of the sport.

mdgolf

Thanks David. No question the forwards skated with more speed vs Dallas, which helps to wear their D down. I think that’s a good part of the reason that Gooch was able to slip in behind them and finish those passes from Joe.

In my opinion though, it was also one of Nabby’s best games. I felt like he made some terrific saves to keep them in the game after the defense made several positioning and puck-clearing mistakes that gave Dallas point-blank chances.

The Sharks haven’t played their best hockey out of the gate, but they’re leading the Pacific after playing 9 of 12 on the road. if they can find their grit in the next month, maybe they can create a little gap in the standings with the next 11 against division opponents.

My biggest concern? Patrick Marleau…he should be a top-10 player in the NHL and so far he’s nearly invisible! Is the shoulder still bad? Zero physical play so far which means no room for him to skate. On the rare occasion he shows some edge…he’s unstoppable. How does RW plan to light a fire under him? Calling him out in the press sure didn’t work.

James

Thank you!

Rivet was talking about one of my biggest complaints about the the team this year. About playing back to the D. I love the fact that they got more quick transition in. I think it is one of the best way to utilize the large forwards. It be impossible to stop fast big bodies.

It sucks about Saturdays game.

heshie

Dave, what’s your take on Marleau and Cheechoo?

Rob

Thank goodness for Nabokov. If it was not for him in the second period, we would not have won the game.

Sharkie

Here here for the technical stuff. That’s what the blog is for. Your blog has been excruciatingly bland and uninformative. Part of reading this and the fan blogs is that I learn things about the game that don’t make it into regular news.

If you provide this information and educate us more about the game, you’ll have at least one steady reader.

Thanks for a good column.
Sharkie

Penny

Well I’ve enjoyed all the blog entries so far, but this one was especially informative. Love Setoguchi’s prediction about the win. And regarding Rivet’s comments – sure glad to hear from someone on the team who doesn’t just sprout the same old cliches. Keep up the good work.

Andy

This blog should be loaded with “technical stuff”. There are very few casual hockey
fans anyway. Just look at the TV ratings.
The decision to show games on Directv that are not otherwise televised is LONG overdue. Now if we could get all the games in HD instead of blur vision.

Davey

Speaking of getting games. Why does the NHL screw everything up? MLB.tv is a far superior online product and is about half the price. The trial period for the NHL Center Ice Online was a complete disaster. The feeds were terrible and always stopped. The picture quality was horrible. How can the NHL be so dumb as to ask $169 for a new, bad, and untested online product? I bought it last year for the end of the season and it was a nightmare.

First you drop ESPN for Versus, then this. I was in Seattle trying to watch the playoffs and had to go to a bar and beg them to turn the game on because no hotels carry Versus.

I love hockey and am a fan of the nuances of them game. I just wish the NHL would make smarter decisions. They don’t always seem to care about growing the product and catering to the fans. Get back on ESPN and suck it up to bring more fans to the game.

That’s enough of my ranting – go Sharks!

Vic

Davey, I think it was more like ESPN dropped the NHL.

Gosh, I’m really disappointed that Saturday night’s game will not be televised. I look forward to going and watching Worcester and then making it back here to watch the big Sharks. This is lame!

Dave, can you make them televise it please! By the way, Great job Dave.

hapkidokid

Best post yet! keep up the good work. sux about saturday’s game though.

Andy

Another dig on Versus… How about during their coverage of the playoffs last year.
During the games we get a constant and annoying graphic regarding “bonus coverage”. Can you imagine the NFL telling us that coverage of the playoffs is a bonus?
They just don’t get it.

Campbellite

Thanks for the insight, David. Did anyone notice in the last game how determined the Sharks were in keeping the puck alive in the Dallas zone by playing along the half boards? That’s the kind of grit that will get this team back to success. Setoguchi’s ability to get in front of the net was precisely the kind of play this team needs. Go Sharks.

Joe8617

David, again, the blog is awesome. I was wondering, as the Sharks only traveling reporter (that I know of), what are your rules from the Sharks? Do you have set times when you are allowed to hang out in the locker room or can you pretty much just be a fly on the wall unless they tell you they want privacy?

If you get a chance, tell JR that it seems to be a unanimous decision of the people who follow and comment on your blog ( the real fans) that he has been a great addition and we want him to keep up the mentoring and gritty play.

Thanks.

Derek

Gooch looked like a better skating Cheech of two years ago…he showed fire and determination to get into the correct spots to receive Joe’s passes, and a rocket shot.

It seems now that Cheech has fallen off this burning desire to score, and tries to play in a way that he simply cannot. He needs to get back into the zone from the bottom of the circles in, and move his feet to get in position….if he does this, I believe that he will once again be a 50-goal scorer.

Gooch is an extreme talent, and for all of you who said that he is not ready for “the show”, get ready to see some inspired and difference making play from this kid the rest of the season.

Yukon Don

What’s the status of Mike Grier?

recreator in Santa Cruz

I echo joe8617 thoughts and would like to hear the answer from David.
Thanks.

SCSharksFan

Just wanted to second Derek’s comments… I noticed the exact same thing… Guch looked like Cheech did two years ago… always trying to slide in front of the net. That’s one of my biggest complaints about the whole team this year… seems like nobody ever wants to get in front of the net… i don’t know how many centering feeds i’ve seen to “nobody” in front of the net? Like they’re gonna score all their goals from the point… hell, Erhoff can’t even find the net when he shoots… i think he needs to check the curve on his stick? Enough already…

Just one more note to Dave and the rest of the bloggers here… i think you have really started something here Dave… i don’t know if any of the rest of you have happened upon the Broadcaster’s Blog on the SJSharks website… it seems to have just started up last week (October 24th)? If any of you are interested, check it out under the “News” pull down menu… i recommend reading Drew Remenda’s comments on the subjects of line changes and firing RW… i wonder if he’s reading this blog? 😉 Keep up the good work Dave (and all)!

Deirdrebeth

I’m so glad to hear about the Blackhawks and getting local TV coverage – I think that whole “we’ll black out the games so more people will come” is the most inane thought process. Wirtz was a fine owner, but I’m glad that particular rule is resting with him.

Now, if we can just get the NHL as a whole to realize that we lose *playoff* games to pre-season baseball and FIX IT I’ll be a happy girl.

Mark Moeglein

I would like to echo what others have said about the “technical” discussion from Rivet. In my mind, that was the type of intelligent commentary that is so often missed in American hockey coverage. A large part of why many of us hockey fans watch the game is to gain insight into how it is played. Unfortunately, that often means watching HNIC instead of American feeds.

Anyway, I was glad for the insight, as opposed to the warmed over pablum that apparently passes for entertainment in so many cases.

Thanks!

Northwest Sharks Fan

I just want to add my appreciation for this blog in general and for this entry in particular. I enjoy hearing tidbits like JR’s interaction with the rookies, and I especially like inclusion of comments from Rivet.

I’ve followed the Sharks for almost 15 years and lived in Canada for 3 years, but my knowledge of the intricacies of hockey is pathetically low. If I’m a college grad watching the Giants, 49ers, and Warriors, I’m probably a 6th grader watching the Sharks.